Rockies’ Boone Logan could be back Sunday; Chacin making strides

Rockies right-hander Jhoulys Chacin will likely make four rehab starts before he rejoins the big-league club.(Associated Press file photo)

The red-white-and-blue bunting is up. The Rooftop is already jammed with pre-game party animals. The Rockies have taken BP. The home opener at Coors Field is 1 1/2 hours away. It’s one of the best days of the year for the casual baseball fan. And admit it, seamheads, it’s more than just one of 162 for you, too.

OK, now for some basic baseball business.

Although lefty reliever Boone Logan is eligible to come off the disabled list on Saturday, he won’t join the team until Sunday at the earliest. When he gets called up, sending an outfielder down to Triple-A Colorado Springs is a strong possibility.

“It’s highly doubtful Boone would be ready for (Saturday),” trainer Keith Dugger said Friday. “It will be a baseball decision when they bring him back, but I’d say he’s definitely made good progress.”

Dugger also said that right-handed starter Jhoulys Chacin has had “absolutely no pain” as he works his way back from a strained shoulder at the Rockies’ spring training complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. He’s thrown 35 pitches in a live bullpen against hitters, throwing all of his pitches with no issues. His next step is to throw 45 pitches in a simulated game.

The tentative return date for Chacin is early May, but Dugger said the exact return date “is hard to predict.”

Chacin will work his way up to 80 pitches as he works toward rehab assignments. Dugger said he anticipates Chacin will pitch in four games — two in extended spring and two more with a yet-to-be-determined minor-league team.

Right-hander Tyler Chatwood is scheduled to pitch make a minor-league rehab start on Tuesday and then be ready to rejoin the Rockies’ rotation on April 13.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.